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and the Village Elders The XY Survival Guide: Everything You Should Know about Being Young and Gay by Benjie Nycum; XY Publishing; 171 pages; $9.95.
The predicament of queer youth is one reason why it is important that books like The XY Survival Guide be readily available. Produced by XY, the national gay youth magazine, this Survival Guide continues the work started by that magazine over five years ago. Geared towards queer "bois" (like the magazine), this book is written - by XY Associate Publisher Benjie Nycum and a score of contributors - in the language (slang included) that "kewl" kids understand. I wish I had a book like The XY Survival Guide when I was coming out. If one of my nephews turns out to be gay, bisexual or trans, I hope that he'll have this book at his disposal. Here is the information every queer kid needs: on coming out, sex, health, relationships, suicide prevention, school and other topics. Sometimes the text gets convoluted, as in the section of drugs or in an inconclusive debate on the "safety" of oral sex. Most of the time, though, the text is clear and concise. Clever "survival tips" informs the readers of things that he need to know in a way that will make him listen. There's even some imaginative question-and-answer sections where a "kewl kid" tells a "foo-foo head" or a "warped thinker" where to get off. Another section explains "How to Start a Gay-Straight Alliance in 10 Easy Steps," thus giving the reader the opportunity to help other "bois" deal with their own coming out process. Since not even The XY Survival Guide can have everything, the book also lists helpful books, Gay Youth Groups and Resources, and Underage Clubs and Hangouts. The editors of XY Magazine plan to make The XY Survival Guide an annual event, with updated text and information. Meanwhile, if you are young and gay, you should have a copy of this book. If you are no longer "young", then buy a copy and give it to a queer youth near you. This will make you a real "kewl" person. Village Elders by Penny Coleman; University of Illinois Press; 168 pages; $24.95.
This book is a loving tribute to the our "greatest generation": the
lesbian women, gay men, bisexual and transgender people who made our
community what it is today. Coleman, a professional photographer, has
captured the lives of 35 Elders with her camera and her pen.
The setting is New York, still one of our major cities and the birthplace of SAGE. (New York SAGE - Senior Action in a Gay Environment - helped Coleman contact her subjects, all of who are involved with SAGE to some degree.) Though not all of the Elders live in Greenwich Village, the book is called Village Elders because the Village was the center of New York queer life for most of the last century. The lesbian, gay and transgender people profiled in Village Elders lived much of their lives at a time when one had to be closeted to survive. At least one of Coleman's subjects still has to use a false name to "protect" his family. Many of these Elders survived the ravages of homophobia, sexism, violence and AIDS, not to mention the many physical and social problems that befall senior citizens of every sexual orientation. In spite of all that, these men and women have retained a positive outlook on life that makes their stories an inspiration to us all.
Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer who lives in South Florida with his domestic partner. He may be reached at jessemonteagudo@aol.com |
Over thirty years after Stonewall, it is still hard to be a queer kid. Unlike ethnic
minorities, they do not grow up in a like-minded environment; and older gays
are reluctant to reach out to them for fear of being labeled "child
molesters". Happily, groups like GLSEN--the Gay, Lesbian and Straight
Education Network--have emerged to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and questioning youth. Unfortunately, not all of our children have access to
such supportive organizations.
© 1997-2002 BEI